Did the Pope Save Coffee?
Boasting a rich coffee culture, Italy is certainly somewhere you would expect to enjoy delicious brews. Indeed, Italians played fundamental roles in the history of coffee drinking.
During the 16th century, coffee beans first entred Europe through Venetian ports and Italy also happens to be where the espresso machine was pioneered by Angelo Moriondo, Luigi Bezzera, and Achille Gaggia. Then there's the moka pot which was invented by Luigi di Ponti and commercialized by Alfonso Bialetti in 1933.
But according to legend, coffee could have been banned in Italy soon after it first arrived.
The Invention of Satan
In the 16th century, the Catholic church wielded enormous power in Italy. It exercised close to absolute control over the political, spiritual, and intellectual life of the Italian states.
When coffee arrived in Christian Europe via Venetian trade routes from the Muslim world, some Catholic priests and advisors were concerned. They are said to have characterised coffee as the "bitter invention of Satan" or a dangerous, intoxicating foreign drug. They urged Pope Clement VIII to ban it.
Pope Clement VIII
Born Ippolito Aldobrandini in Fano, Pope Clement VIII headed the Catholic Church and ruled the Papal States between 1592 and 1605. Prior to being ordained as a priest, he was a lawyer and was known to be a highly intelligent, hard working and disciplined individual who was relatively liberal.
Legend has it that when confronted by priests about the poetential dangers of coffee, Pope Clement VIII insisted on trying a cup before deciding its fate.
Following his taste test which is thought to have taken place in 1600, he is said to have declared, "Why, this Satan's drink is so delicious that it would be a pity to let the infidels have exclusive use of it."
Greatly enjoying coffee, he is reported to have given it a papal blessing by baptising the bean. This ensured that Catholics could drink coffee without fearing that they were committing a sin.
It is possible that Pope Clement VIII endorsed coffee as he thought it was a healthier alternative option than alcohol beverages.
Historical Reality
There is no evidence that Pope Clement VIII blessed coffee at any time as there is no documented papal decree regarding coffee.
However, it is likely that priests were indeed suspicious of the new drink and that the Pope played a role in ensuring coffee wasn't banned, given the extent of his powers. Most legends have their roots in reality.
Coffee was never banned by the Vatican. But its integration into European culture was shaped more by other developments than by any interventions from clerics. It was undoubtedly increasing trade, the opening of Italian coffee houses in the 17th century, and the use of coffee by monks to help them stay awake during vigils that lead to the growth in coffee drinking.
The true extent of Pope Clement VIII's influence has been lost in the mists of time. But if he did stand up to his priests and prevent the drink from being banned, he is a hero. he was never a candidiate for beatification, but perhaps he should have been!
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